Dragonic Scammers - Chapter 2
Posté le 6 décembre 2025 --- 1 743 mots
Rain was starting to slowly turn to sleet as the moon was shining through the glass panels of the main room of the castle. The Ardismouth Keep were abandoned since years after the new castle was built. The former keep was in the middle of a deep dark lake, located in the overgrown forest way up north from the small village. The jet black stone of the keep makes it even more omnious that it was back in the days the keep was used by the king.
Now, it’s just a place filled with darkworld critters, skeletons, a supposed treasure and… a feared dragon, keeping the kidnapped princess that all the tales were speaking about. She had amber-tinted hair and eyes the shine of an emerald, but she wasn’t the average body frame of a princess. More muscular, less « in dire need of rescue ». Because truth is, she wasn’t truely the so-believed lady in distress.
Sirook never feared the dragon, but had a very different relation with her. The whole « Princess captured » was never more than a tale made by both of them as to either scam or eliminate the knights of the realm. Both of them were actually even a couple, madly in love since years. Chazza weren’t a princess, but a former assassin, banned from the guild of her native region because she stole from her boss.
The dragonness, Zandii had both her powerful dragon form and a more humanoid form, that was still very draconic. Her dragon form has cerulean scaled tinted with a bright cyan edge, around her neck back were bone spikes, that were also on the tips of her large wings. Both Zandii and Sirook were doing this play pretend thing since a few years now.
As the moon shone even brighter, Sirook walked down the East Tower towards the main hall, passing by the walls removed of their former royal paintings and adorned with magical artifacts and garish banners making the corridors more lively than ever. The life at this keep were not solitary, some creatures, mostly the kobolds of Zandii and other underground creature were working at both killing the knights and helping the castle.
Arriving in the dinner room, Zandii, now in her human form was waiting for her besides the fireplace. In her human form, she stands tall at 1m83, her cerulean scales still on her forehead, legs and her wrists, the ivory horns proudly topping her snow-white hair. The dinner table was being served by three young kobolds.
Z : Aaah, there she is, my lovely sneaky assassin – She said in a sultry deep voice
S : Oh please, don’t flatter me this early in the night dear, we’ve barely finished kicking out yet an other adventurer, why the extravagant meal ?
Z : I feel this adventurer had something different, but that is not the reason, nor the matter for tonight. It’s been 15 years today since we first met remember ? It’s not our relationship anniversary, but I wanted to celebrate this date too.
S : 15 years already ? Dear stars above, has it really been that long dear ? 15 years of being together, 15 years with the most incredible entity I’ve even been with, happy anniversary my draconic iconic love ! Also, I hope that adventurer from earlier wasn’t too much trouble.
Z : Oh, that ? No, don’t worry, I didn’t even have to move a claw, I sensed she wasn’t really ready, and to be entirely fair, it’s all thanks to Lacryma, one of my kobolds of getting her out.
S : Her ? Oh wow, I think it’s the first time a lady respond to such of those stories, have you sensed something different about her ?
In almost 15 years of this game, few were the heroic women who tried to « free her », most of them not believing those stories, thinking more about killing demons than collecting fame in hope of finding love.
Z : Not something totally different, rather some sort of other motivation. I mean, it’s the first time I’ve sensed someone having a serious belief of saving a princess without wanting anything in return. But there’s also something else in her heart. I don’t know if she’ll try to come back once more, but I hope she’ll prepare more seriously. Now let’s not wait too long, the food is just served, I don’t want my critters to have cooked for nothing.
|-----| The Next Morning |---|
Echo quietly opened her eyes. Although the pain made it tough to rest, she was starting to feel a bit better. At least well enough to walk to the healer and grab a bite to eat first. The morning sunrays shone through the wooden panels of the window, allowing to see the room better. It was a simple room of one dark blue and gold bed, and the basic furniture someone would need to stay a few days there. After changing herself, she went down the stairs, Baida was already working, serving the early customers.
Not a few people there. Quite logical for a 9AM in such a place, but you could feel the life of the small town, the young adventurers planning their next journey and the other citizens living their life.
E : Good morning Baida, thanks again for the room for the night, I might need it for a few nights more, when can I pay for that ? Also, I must thank you again for the tea last night, very appreciated.
B : Good morning. You look a little better than you did last night, that’s always good to see. That herbal tea was brewed by the healer and me. It’s only a simple remedy, not a true restoration potion. As for the room, don’t trouble yourself. You can pay each evening, if that suits you better.
E : Perfect, I’ll just take a simple breakfast and then I’ll see the healer you’ve mentionned last evening. Granted my appetite is small, surprise me with a local meal, I’m up for anything.
After a nice breakfast, consisting of toasted rye bread, goosebery jam, goat cheese and honey, Echo went on toe see the healer. The healer’s house was easy to recognize, the dark wood of the front had a mouse face, symbol of health in the kingdom, painted in gold. The front of the house had also the name of the healer : Professor Abyssio.
As soon as she entered, the floral aroma engulfed her nostrils, a calming sensation permeated her body. The healer was sitting at his counter, reading a large book. He was a tall catfolk with a deep brown fur, wearing white and dark green clothing that reached down to the ground almost, a sign of his ancient medical knowledge.
: Welcome traveller, I’ve been expecting your visit, Baida told me about you, seems like the herbal tea at least fixed the surface of the damage, but you’re lucky there’s me to patch you up entirely. She hasn’t tell me what happened though, not that she forgot, I just prefer the patients to talk themselves, you see ?
The professor had gold rings on his right ear, and a small V-shaped scar above his right eye. He could have seem menacing, standing tall and with that scar, but there was some sort of safety you could feel, he wasn’t the kind to be agressive, but more a healer with a deep profound conviction to heal and help the ones in need.
E : You must have heard of the stories of the princess held captive by that dragon at the old Ardismouth Keep… I’ve tried to free her.
PrA : With that equipment ? Barely a light armor, some basic cloak of protection ? Oh wow, I wonder how you managed to get out alive. Even some strong steel armor were barely enough for some knights.
E : I’ve gathered all I could, I’ve just wanted to save her. And also, I’m technically an adept in Stone Magic, I’ve managed some defense spells to help me survive and get away safely.
PrA : Ah, a stone mage eh ? Rare to see those in the region, you’re not from here I suppose. But still, very impressed by how you’ve achieved a quite decent safe escape, minus the damage.
The professor was brewing up an Major Healing Elixir as he was talking. Explaining why stone magic was rare in the region due to the former king banning this magic, by jealousy of this brother. As the potion was slowly decanting, he applied a ointment made of flowers and various herbs as to heal some wounds.
E : Yes, I’m from the western region of Warlverri, I’ve travelled all the way from there in order to save a person I think need help. I don’t do it for glory, a title or some gold, I do it by empathy and a need to help others.
As pain was starting to fade away, thanks to the medecine, Echo was contemplating the ceiling of the healer’s house. Wondering how she’ll prepare for her next attempt at the castle, calculating in her head the cost of gear and if she even have a strong enough magic level to tank the hits. She was in the back of the healer’s den, the aroma of plants and medecinal flowers permeating the atmosphere with a tint of caramel.
Echo was determined to her mission, as she said multiple times. She didn’t want to do this for glory, gold or anything, she was just wanting to save a person in need. That was the reason she also learned the Stone Magic in her native region, a magic to protect others. Even though she heard the stories of the defeated knights and heroes to attack the Ardismouth Keep, she was convinced she might have a chance.
After a few hours of rest, she was starting to feel much better, got out of the healer’s stand after paying a few potions and bandages, and went on to buy the necessary gear for her next attempt. Daggers, armors, ropes, a quick deployable shield, the whole deal she were able to afford.
Her bags heavy of the gear, she went back at the tavern to spend the evening and night, prepare her plan. She was returning to the Keep tomorrow night.